Tobacco storing and pipe loading device



Nov. 24; 1942. v R. H. LOEiTI- IER 2',30 3;1'67

v TOBACCO STORING AND PIPE LOADING DEVICE Filed June 21, 1940 v '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. H. LOETHER Nair. 24, 1942.

' TOBACCO s'rbnme AND PIPE LOADiNG DEVICE 2 'Sheets-Shet '2 Filed June 21,. 1940 m lrlllllfll! I Patented Nov. 24, 1942 OFFICE- TOBACCO STORING AND PIPE LOADING DEVICE Raymond H. Loether, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application June 21, 1940, Serial N0. 341,699

3 Claims. (Cl. 206-411) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in containers for carrying and loading smokingtobacco-for pipes, and it is amongthe objects thereof to provide a compact durable container wherein smoking tobacco may be stored in a moisture-proof air-tight compartment, and which shall have a pipe-receiving compartment functioning both to store the pipe when not in use, thereby avoiding contamina-' tion of the clothing of the smoker, and, also to maintain proper register of the pipe with the tobacco charging opening of the loading device.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple charging mechanism for displacing tobacco from a tobacco storage compartment into the bowl of the pipe-and for tamping the tobacco therein, so that when the pipe is removed from its compartment it is fully and effectively charged and tamped, ready for smoking. The charging mechanism alsoiunctions to seal off the tobacco compartment from the pipe.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for maintaining a yielding pressure against the tobacco in the direction of the a charging device. I

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of sectional closures for the container to provide access to the tobacco and pipe compartments independently.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings constituting a part hereof, in which like reference characters designate like parts and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view'of a container 'e m- 3 bodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 an end elevation partially cut away;

Fig. 4 a vertical cross-sectional view of a plunger block; 7 r

Fig. 5 a horizontal cross-section taken along the line 55, Fig. 6; i

Fig. 6 a vertical cross-section line lie-6, Fig. 5.

' taken on the Fig. '7 a transverse section taken on the line Fig. 8 a Vertical cross-section; and

Fig. 9 a detailed horizontal section taken on the line 9-9, Fig. 6. 7

With reference to the several figures of the drawings, the structure therein illustrated comprises a housing I made of aluminum or a molded plastic composition, the housing being of rectangular form having rounded corners 2 of substantial radii for convenience in shank of the pipe 1.

housing being of a shape and sizeto be readily placed, carried and removed from the pocket of the user.

As shown in Figs. 6 to 8, the housing is partitioned off by a sectional element having a top' wall 3 forming the base of the compartment containing the tobacco designated by the numeral 4, a bottom wall 5 and an end wall 6 constituting a retaining wall for the tobacco pipe I, Fig. 8, a spring clip 8 being attached to the inner side of the housing to yieldingly engage the A cover 9, Fig. 3, hinged at ID to the sidewall of housin I, extends the full length of the cone tainer, as shown in Fig. -2, and the cover is opened to permit insertion or removal of the pipe I. The cover 9 is" provided with a spring lug II having a teat I2 that snaps into a recess l3 providedin the wall 5 of the partition element; the cover 9ris thereby readily opened or closed with a snap action. The tobacco compartment of the container is provided with a sliding cover. l4 having a dove-tailed edge 15, Fig. 5, coactingwith a complementary shaped way of the housing, whereby the cover l4 can be slid vertically or, horizontally, depending upon the position of the container to make the tobacco chamber accessible for recharging.

:To ,avoid the necessity of tilting the container in the direction of the hopper, a partition plate 16 is provided of the dimensions of the tobacco compartment, which is biased by coil springs I1 and Ila, that rest against a spring As shown in Fig. 4, a plunger block l9 having a cylindrical opening 20 is fastened in one corner of the housing by screws 2| and 22, as shown in Fig. 6. The bottom portion of the block is slotted at 23 to receive a tongue 24 of the partition wall '3. A portion of the cylindrical opening 29 is cut away at 25 to constitute the hopper opening of the tobacco compartment, and the flange element at the base of the block, which coactswith the wall 3 of the partition has a cylindrical opening at 26 which is in register with the end compartment in which the bowl of pipe I is fitted, so that the tobacco will be fed or forced through the opening 26 into the bowl of the pipe.

A combined plunger and sealing element 21, Figs. 6 and 8, is disposed in the cylindrical opening 20 of the plunger block and. is movable vertihandling, the 55 cally therein between the limits of an abutting plate 28 that fits into the counterbore 29 of the plunger block and rests against the housing wall, as shown in Fig. 6, and the flange 30 of the plunger rod 3! which rests in the opening 32 of the housing to extend slightly beyond the opening in the down position, as shown in Fig. 8, the plunger rod 3| being provided with a pin that passes through a, slot 34 in the abutting plate 28 so that when the flange 30 is turned it will stay in the down position.

A coil spring 35 is disposed against the plate 28 at one end and at its other end abuts a spring plate 36 that fits in the bottom of plunger 21 to which the plunger rod 3| is attached by a screw end 37.

It is to be noted in the down position of plunger 21 in Fig. 8 that the end of the plunger passes through the opening 26 of the plunger block to seal off the tobacco chamber.

The operation and utility of the above-described tobacco container and loader is briefly as follows: i

The end cover I4 is removed by sliding movement and the partition IS with coil springs ll, Ila, and the spring plate l8 which is constructed as a unitar member is removed from the tobacco compartment. The compartment is then filled with smoking tobacco, which maybe compressed slightly and the partition element and spring plate are then replaced with the cover 14 slid in place, as shown in Fig. 6. The cover 9 is then opened and the pipe 1 is placed in thepipe compartment with the bowl beneath the hopper opening 26. While the tobacco and pipe are placed in the container, plunger 2'! is in the down position, with the pin flange 3D locked beneath the retaining plate 28 by pin 33, as shown in Fig. 8.

The cover 9 is then closed and the plunger is released by turning the knob 30 until the pin 33 is in register with the slot 34 of the retaining plate 28.. The plunger is then raised to the position shown in Fig. 6 and the tobacco falls into the bowl of the pipe through opening 26 by passing through the hopper opening 25 of theplunger block.

Plunger 21 is then actuated to tamp the tobacco into the bowl of the pipe and when the tobacco is properly tamped the plunger is lowered to seal the opening M and is again locked in position, as shown in Fig. 8, by the pin .33. Because of the sharp edges formed by the cut-out portion 25, which forms the hopper opening, the plunger will efiect a cutting action on the tobacco bulk as it descends, thereby eliminating binding of the plunger and assuring feeding of thetobacco to the bowl. Cover 9' is then opened and the pipe removed. When not in use, the pipe can be returned to the pipe compartment. It is, however, not again filled until plunger 21 is released and operated as described.- 1

As the tobacco is used, the partition plate keep feeding it in the direction of the hoppenso that substantially the entire contents of the tobacco compartment may be emptied without actuating the container.

The chamber constituted by the walls 3, 5 and 6 may be used for storing pipe cleaners, pipe filters, lighters or other pipe smoking accessories.

The container, while designed for pocket use, may obviously be mounted either on the door, below the seat or the dash board of an automobile, so that the driver can load and use his pipe without interfering with his driving.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that the tobacco container and loading device provides a pipe tobacco smoker with all the facilities needed for charging his pipe in a simple and convenient manner, which avoids the spilling of tobacco and eliminates the odors of the pipe when not in use.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the principles herein set forth.

I claim:

1. A container comprising a tobacco compartment and a pipe compartment having separate closures, the pipe compartment being shaped to retain a pipe in proper position for charging tobacco from the tobacco compartment, means for sealing the tobacco compartment, said sealing means comprising a plunger, a spring normally biasing said plunger to the sealing position and means for locking the plunger in sealing position.

2. In a tobacco pipe charging mechanism, a housingdivided into a tobacco compartment and a pipe compartment having separate closures for the pipe and tobacco compartments, a plunger block mounted at one end of the tobacco compartment having a cylindrical opening in align- ,ment with the pipe compartment and having a cut out portion leading to the tobacco compartment, a plunger adapted to close the opening leading to the pipe compartment, said plunger having a spring for holding it in closed'position and said plunger being movable through the cutout portion of said block to yieldingly urge tobacco to the pipe compartment and said pipe compartment being shaped to maintain alignment of the bowl of the smoking pipe with the opening of the plunger block.

3. A combined tobacco storage and pipe loading device comprising a tobacco chamber, a feed block at one end of said chamber, a cylindrical opening in said block constituting the charging opening for feeding tobacco to a pipe, said block having a cut-out portion communicating with said cylindrical opening and with the tobacco compartment, and a plunger operable in said cylindrical opening a distance corresponding to-the length of said cut-out portion, said plunger in its down position sealing said pipe charging opening and when raised permitting the tobacco to drop through said cut-out portion into the cylindrical opening above the pipe, whereby on the downward stroke of the plunger a measured quantity of tobacco is charged into the pipe.

RAYMOND I-I. LOETHER. 

